Envelope opener



EEC. 17 1929:. JENSEN 1,740,018

ENVELOPE OPENER Filed July 26, 1927 INVENTOR A .M qinsen Patented Dec. 17, 1929 PATENT OFFICE ANDREW M. JENSEN, OF STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA ENVELOPE OPENER Application filed July 26,

This invention relates to improvements in devices for opening envelopes, my principal object being to provide an implement for the purpose arranged to remove a narrow strlp of the envelope along anydesired edge thereof so as to separate the adjacent sides of the envelope and allow them to be then split and the contents of the envelope to be removed.

The main advantage of my device over the slitting blades ordinarily used for this pur-- pose is that it is, not necessary for the tool to be first inserted. under the flap as must be done with such blades and which takes time to manipulate and is sometimes hard to do if the flap is closely sealed throughout its extent.

A further object of the invention is to r0- duce a simple and inexpensive device an yet one which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects I accomplish by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claim.

In the drawing similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views:

Fig. 1 is a perspective elevation of mydevice shown as operating'upon'an envelope.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of said preferred form of the device. V f

Fig. 3 is-a cross section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the device comprises abody'l having a deep slot 2 cut in along one side of the-body fromend to end thereof. A groove 3 is cut in the bottom face of the slot parallel to the outer edge of the body and is preferably nearer the bottom of the slot than the outer edge of the same. A handle 4 of suitable character projects outwardly from. the side of the body opposite to the slot, said handle being set at 90 degrees to the longitudinal plane of the body, or at any other desired and suitable angle.

A cutting blade 5 is mounted in a slit cut in the body from the top thereof above the slot and in transverse alinement with the 1927. Serial No. 208,514.,

groove 3 andin the central transverse plane of said groove. The blade is removably clamped in position by set screws 6 mounted in the body. The implement is designed to take a rectangular blade, so that a safety razor blade may be used for the purpose, as shown. This blade is set so that its cutting edge will be at an acute angle relative to the slot 2 and will project at one end into the groove 3. Since a blade of this type is apt to have its opposed edges both sharp, and since the angle of setting of the blade causes the edge not in use to project above the body, I provide a removable hood H mounted on the body to cover said projecting edge and so prevent possible harm to the user. By means of this construction it'will be seen that if the edge of an envelope 7 is inserted at one end betweenthe lips of the slot 2 in front of the blade, and so as to, abut against the back of the slot, a longitudinalmovement of the implement relative to the envelope will cause said blade to cut through both thicknesses of the envelope adjacent its edge and remove a narrow strip 8 which of course contains the connection previously had between said two thicknesses. v

After the strip is removed from one end to the other of the envelope, the latter may be freely opened so that its-contents may be removed, as will be evident. The width of the strip thus cut is governed by the distance transversely of the implement from the back of the slot to the cutter, which distance is sufliciently small so that there is no danger of cuttin through the contents of the envelope. The cutting edge of the blade being angularly disposed to the line of movement of the envelope and tool, an eflicient shearing cutting action is bad. The groove 3 in-. sures the blade depending below the bottom of the slot 2, so that said blade cannot fail to cut through both thicknesses of the envelope.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that I have produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred canstruction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure'from the spirit of'the invention as defined by the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

An envelope opener comprising a body having a longitudinal slot in one side and a longitudinal slit intermediate its ends cut through from the top of the body to one face of the slot, a rectangular cutter blade projecting angularly through said slit so that one end extends across the slot at an acute angle to the length thereof While the other en projects abovethe body, releasable clamping means preventing movement and removal of the blade, and a removable hood mounted on the top of the body to cover the projecting portion of the blade. I

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

ANDREW M. JENSEN. 

